Greece Turkey Border Crossing In A Campervan
We spent three months travelling around Turkey in our campervan and here’s everything that you need to know about the Greece Turkey border crossing.
Including where you can cross, what documents you need, how to buy insurance and what customs checks to expect.
Greece Turkey Border Crossing Info
There are two Greece Turkey land border crossings available:
- Kastanies – Pazarkule
- Kipi – Ipsala
We used the Greece Turkey border crossing at Ipsala. But from the research we did and from speaking to fellow travellers who used the other crossing, the procedures and facilities are very much the same.
How Long Is The Greece Turkey Vehicle Crossing
Because there are only two crossings and it is a EU to Non-EU border, we had expected there to be some queues and delays. So we were pleasantly surprised when entering Turkey from Greece only took us around half an hour.
We did cross in off season (February) so maybe that made a difference and it’s much busier in peak season. Either way, I think probably the best approach is to prepare for it to take a few hours and then if it doesn’t just take it as a bonus.
One thing to be mindful of is that goods vehicles go through a different lane and they do have long waits. So don’t mistakenly start queuing with the lorries - you can just whizz straight past.
Driving From Greece To Turkey
The first stage that you’ll come to is of course the Greece exit check. For this you’ll just need your passport. If you’re a UK citizen they will check your entry stamp into Greece/Schengen Zone. Obviously thanks to Brexit, we now only get 90 days in the Schengen Zone.
It’s important you’ve been keeping track. Especially if you’ve travelled through non-schengen Balkan countries for example. If you are found to have overstayed (even unintentionally), the penalties are severe and will likely include a fine and a ban.
If you have an EU passport - lucky you - don’t take that bad boy for granted!
After getting your exit stamp you’ll then drive over a bridge, past some army security postings and approach the Turkish entry side of the border.
At the first desk you’ll be asked for your passport and then to get out of your vehicle to have your photograph taken. This applies to all adults in the vehicle. I’m not sure if it’s all children or just under a certain age, but our two year old daughter didn’t need to have hers taken.
Turkey Entry Requirements
UK passport holders also need to have 150 days validity. Plus a full blank page for entry and exit stamps. I imagine this is the same for other passports, but please double check.
UK citizens do not need a visa to enter Turkey and are given an allowance upon entry of 90 days in a 180 day period (i.e. 90 days in, 90 days out). I believe this is the same for Schengen area countries, Ireland and the United States, again please double check.
An important thing to note is that no matter what time you cross the Greece Turkey land border, it will count as day X of your Schengen Zone time AND day one of your Turkey allowance.
Turkey Document Requirements
Then you’ll drive a little further and come to a second desk. Here you’ll need the driver's passport and vehicle registration document. If you’re from the UK, this is your V5 document or log book as some people call it.
This might be obvious but the driver needs to be the vehicle owner. And the names should match up on both documents.
Greece Turkey Land Border Customs
It’s likely the customs check will happen whilst you are waiting here. Ours was very brief, they just asked us if we had anything to declare and then took a very quick look in the side door.
I do however know people who have had customs officers enter and ask to open cupboards at the Greece Turkey border crossing at Ipsala and Pazarkule, so it very much does vary.
You’ll also be asked if you have an insurance green card. If your vehicle insurance doesn't cover you for Turkey (like ours didn’t) you’ll then need to buy this. It’s very straightforward.
Buying Insurance at Greece Turkey Border
To buy motorhome or campervan insurance at the Greece Turkey border crossing, you just need to just park up after the second desk and go inside.
There’s a duty free shop, toilets, an ATM, a Turkcell desk and the vehicle insurance desk.
They’ll again need to see your passport and vehicle registration document. Please note that the insurance is not a fixed price, it is based on the type of vehicle you have and the age.
We paid €62 for 90 days, but my understanding is that motorhome prices are much higher and we’ve heard of some people paying closer to €150.
Something important to know is that you can pay in Euros or Lira, but you can only pay in cash.
As mentioned there is however an ATM. We used Euros we already had, so I can’t tell you what, if any, fees there are.
But in any case I wouldn’t rely on getting cash here in case it’s not working. This is because you simply will not be allowed to go through the border into Turkey without insurance.
You should also know that it is only third party insurance, i.e. it only covers you for damage to other vehicles or property. So it is the bare minimum of coverage. If you can get cover through your own insurance company that is definitely the best option.
Entering Turkey From Greece
After you’ve bought your motorhome or campervan insurance for Turkey, you’ll then need to pop back to the last desk you were at on foot to show them the paperwork.
They could already see it on their system that we had bought it though so it’s all obviously very well joined up.
Buying A Turkey SIM Card
If you do need to get a SIM card for Turkey, do not buy it at the Greece Turkey land border. I mean by all means ask, but the cost we were quoted was €90 for 20GB which was just beyond ridiculous.
Thankfully we didn’t need one immediately as we had e-sims in our phones. But we did buy one for the router in our van at a Turkcell shop in Çanukkale and it was much more reasonable.
Paying For Turkey Toll Roads
The other thing that you’ll need to do if you’re driving from Greece to Turkey is enrol in the HGS automatic toll system. You literally cannot pay by cash or card at tolls, this is the only way. But you have two weeks to do it and it is very straightforward.
You just need to go to a post office, buy one and stick it in the middle top of your windscreen. We preloaded ours with 1000 lira as suggested by the cashier for 3 months of travel. Oh and you’ll need all your documents; passport, vehicle registration and insurance.
We’re not entirely sure how you check your balance. But our understanding is that if you have run out of credit you will just need to pay the difference at the border when you leave.
Taking Pets To Turkey
Unfortunately as we don’t have any, I’m not clued up on the legal requirements for bringing pets into Turkey. So you will have to do separate research about that. But I do it's possible and that lots of people from the UK and EU do it without much drama. This is a good place to start.
Any further questions though, drop them below and we’ll try our best to help.
Happy travels!
